Chouara Tannery, Fes (must see)
The largest tannery in Fes and arguably the most striking sight in the Medina, Chouara exudes a compulsive fascination for visitors. Each morning, the site buzzes with activity as cascades of water flow through openings that were once windows of nearby houses. Hundreds of skins are spread out on the rooftops to dry, while amidst the vats of dye and pigeon dung, an almost surreal scene unfolds as tanners treat the hides. The sight is like something out of a Gothic fantasy, with the rotation of colors in the honeycombed vats following a traditional sequence—yellow (from turmeric), red (from poppy), blue (from indigo), green (from mint), and black (from antimony).
Despite the occasional modern addition like rinsing machines, little seems to have changed here since the 16th century when Fes supplanted Cordoba as the premier city of leather production. The ownership structure remains intricately feudal, with foremen overseeing hereditary guilds and workers passing down their specific jobs from one generation to the next.
While there is a sensuous beauty to the tannery's operations, there's also a certain element of guilt in indulging in the spectacle, especially as one observes the gallery of camera-touting foreigners capturing the scene.
Tip:
To view the tannery up close, visitors typically ascend into the leather shops overlooking the site, often paying a small fee to the guardians (who may provide a sprig of mint to help combat the strong odor).
Despite the occasional modern addition like rinsing machines, little seems to have changed here since the 16th century when Fes supplanted Cordoba as the premier city of leather production. The ownership structure remains intricately feudal, with foremen overseeing hereditary guilds and workers passing down their specific jobs from one generation to the next.
While there is a sensuous beauty to the tannery's operations, there's also a certain element of guilt in indulging in the spectacle, especially as one observes the gallery of camera-touting foreigners capturing the scene.
Tip:
To view the tannery up close, visitors typically ascend into the leather shops overlooking the site, often paying a small fee to the guardians (who may provide a sprig of mint to help combat the strong odor).
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Fes. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Chouara Tannery on Map
Sight Name: Chouara Tannery
Sight Location: Fes, Morocco (See walking tours in Fes)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Fes, Morocco (See walking tours in Fes)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Fes, Morocco
Create Your Own Walk in Fes
Creating your own self-guided walk in Fes is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Fes New Town Walking Tour
Created by the French in the early 20th century, Ville Nouvelle (New Town) is a relatively modern central district of Fez. A far cry from the sensory overload provided by the old Medina, this neighborhood was originally designed to accommodate foreigners and affluent Moroccans only.
Still, Fez's Ville Nouvelle is as much 'real' Morocco as any donkey-packed lane in the old city.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Still, Fez's Ville Nouvelle is as much 'real' Morocco as any donkey-packed lane in the old city.... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Fes Old Town Walking Tour
North and west of the fabled Atlas Mountains of North Africa is the ancient city of Fes, or Fez. It is centered on the Fes River.
In the year 789 Idris I founded the city and the Idrisid dynasty. The city was two settlements on either side of the river. In the 11th century, Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin established Almoravid rule. He united the settlements into Fes el-Bali. The Almoravids were... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
In the year 789 Idris I founded the city and the Idrisid dynasty. The city was two settlements on either side of the river. In the 11th century, Sultan Yusuf ibn Tashfin established Almoravid rule. He united the settlements into Fes el-Bali. The Almoravids were... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles